Cem Özdemir, Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, met with the German Animal Welfare Federation at the Falkensee animal shelter in Brandenburg today to gain an impression of the important and challenging work involved in practical animal welfare. Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation, impressively conveyed to the Minister the existential problems that animal shelters are currently struggling with.
“We are delighted that the Federal Minister is taking the time to visit us. We are very grateful to Mr. Özdemir for his commitment to providing 5 million euros in aid for Ukraine.” However, the situation in the animal shelters is dramatic, as Thomas Schröder made clear: “Our animal shelters are overcrowded with animals that were thoughtlessly acquired during the pandemic and are now being handed in. Our animal shelters don't know how they are going to pay for the exploding energy, food and veterinary costs and the future minimum wage. They are struggling with persistent staff shortages as well as the increasing number of animals requiring intensive care. If we do not take swift countermeasures together, charitable animal welfare in Germany is on the brink of collapse.”
As the federal states and local authorities were unable or unwilling to react, Thomas Schröder once again called them to account. “The contracts for found animals urgently need to be adjusted; an increase of at least 40 percent is necessary.” And the federal government is also called upon to act - also and especially with regard to the national goal of animal welfare. Schröder presented the Minister with the most urgent demands: “We need an adequately funded special fund to help animal shelters cope with the massive increase in operating costs. In addition, the funds for the consumption foundation provided for in the coalition agreement must be made available without delay in order to enable the energy optimization of animal shelters and the expansion of infirmaries and nursing stations. And finally, animal shelters and socially disadvantaged pet owners need help to compensate for rising veterinary costs.”
Schröder also recalled the demands of the German Animal Welfare Federation, the overdue implementation of which would at least partially alleviate the current situation. These include the introduction of a pet protection ordinance as well as the adoption of a positive list for privately owned animal husbandry and a ban on trading and shipping live animals via the Internet.
